By Muhammad Amaan
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to fully release the 2025 approved family planning budget, including the $4 million government counterpart funding to complement the national family planning program.
A statement issued Tuesday by the Coordinator of AHBN, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, also called for the release of 10 per cent approved budget from the $60 billion of the Medical Relief fund under the Presidential Initiative for unlocking the health value chain.
“We are also calling on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for the implementation of the mandatory health insurance as issued by the presidential executive order and ensure family planning services becomes part of the benefit package,” he said.
Dr Magashi also urged the Federal and State Governments to fully release the 2025 adolescent health and well-being budgets at both national and subnational levels.
The AHBN further commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, for the recent release of N32.9 billion in Direct Facility Financing (DFF) under the BHCPF.
Dr Magashi added that the AHBN called for greater accountability and transparency to ensure prudent utilization, strengthened monitoring and supervision, and improved health outcomes.
“We are calling on the government to fulfil Nigeria’s counterpart funding obligations for immunization, in alignment with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) commitments and release the allocated funds to the tune of N137 billion which 25 per cent was released in 2024, and N231 billion for 2025.”
